Jega ends tenure, Buhari appoints Zakari as acting INEC chairman

Firstclass newsline learnt that Prof. Attahiru Jega on Tuesday ended
his tenure as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission.
Consequently, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mrs. Amina Bala
Zakari, as the acting chairman of INEC.
Zakari, the first female to occupy the position albeit in an acting
capacity, was until Tuesday, a National Electoral Commissioner at
INEC.
A statement issued by the Director Communications in the Office of
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Haruna Imrana, on
behalf of the HoS, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, confirmed the appointment.
Kifasi said Zakari's appointment was with immediate effect and would
subsist from June 30, 2015 until the appointment of a substantive
chairman.
Jega was appointed the chairman of the commission by former President
Goodluck Jonathan on June 30, 2010.
He conducted two elections in 2011 and 2015.
Speaking briefly at the end of the closed-door handing over ceremony
at the commission in Abuja, Jega said the future of the country and
commission was bright.
He said he was grateful to God and the country for the opportunity to serve.
He said, "We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to
serve the country. The future is bright for the commission and the
country."
Jega said, "In whatever we have achieved, we should keep it up and do
more", adding that there was still a lot to be done.
Jega left the commission with six national commissioners whose tenure
also expired on Tuesday.
The other six national commissioners who left with him on Tuesday were
Col. M.K. Hammanga (retd.), Adamawa State, (North-East); Dr. Ishmael
Igbani, Rivers State, (South-South); Prof. Lai Olurode, Osun State,
(South-West); Dame Gladys Nwafor, Abia State, (South-East); Mrs.
Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta State, (South-South); and Dr. Nuru
Yakubu, Yobe State, (North-East).
Four other national commissioners would leave the commission in July
and August this year. These include Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Kwara
State (North-Central) whose tenure will expire on July 21; Mrs. Amina
Bala Zakari, Jigawa State (North-West) whose tenure will also expire
on July 21; Dr. Chris Iyimoga, Nasarawa State (North-Central); whose
tenure will expire on August 11; and Wali, Sokoto State (North-West)
whose tenure will also expire on August 11, 2015.
Firstclassnewsline.net